Kerry to Vote for ENDA Without Trans Language

Not to be labor the issue, but John Kerry's announcement of his support for a non-all inclusive version of ENDA shows the practical need of getting some version of ENDA through the U. S. Senate this year. The battle for trans inclusive language can continue unabated, but during the interim, millions of gays and lesbians will have employment discrimination protections that they now lack. Yes, I know that the nay sayers will argue that the Chimperator will veto the bill. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I think a veto is absolutely assured if the transgender language is included since it sets the fundies foaming at the mouth. With the transgender language deleted, the Christianists lose the ability to run around saying ENDA would force employers to hire "men wearing dresses and heels." Such statements are hateful, but they are nonetheless effective with spineless members of Congress. Part of the political process is moving forward incrementally to get as much as possible at the particular moment in time. Here are some highlights from Bay Windows (http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=blog&sc2=news&sc3=&id=72642):

Sen. John Kerry told Bay Windows today that if ENDA comes up for a vote in the Senate in its current form, granting protections based on sexual orientation but not gender identity, he will support it. He said he strongly supports adding the transgender-inclusive language, but in the short term he believes it is important to pass the bill as is.

In a statement to Bay Windows Kerry said: We’ve been fighting more than twenty years to get these civil rights protections passed, and Massachusetts has always been in the forefront. After more than a decade of trying to pass ENDA under Democratic and Republican administrations alike, I think we’re finally at a point where, under Democratic leadership and with support from Massachusetts leaders, we finally have a good chance of passing a bill this year.

We all want to see transgendered workers included, and I guarantee that day will come and we’ll get there, but this year it’s vital that we get the most protection for the greatest number of employees that we can. People are being discriminated against today in the workplace and the law needs to make it clear that’s a violation of civil rights and human rights, now.